Photometric data can be combined with NEO surface
albedo (reflectivity) data to determine the size of an
NEO. Accurate albedos can also be diagnostic of composition.
Albedos are usually determined by making observations
in the infrared part of the spectrum, to determine the
temperature of the object (by observing it at two
wavelengths and assuming a Black Body emission curve).
The Project plans to process its low-resolution
spectra by binning the data into two to three bins and fitting
the data to simulate filter photometry. The Project will
investigate whether such simulated visible-band broadband
"filter" measurements can be used to estimate NEO
albedos.
Last modified: January 3, 2008.